Scratched Sheppard Worries About Trade

February 28, 1998|By MICHAEL RUSSO Staff Writer

DETROIT — Ray Sheppard is not used to being a healthy scratch, so when assistant coach Duane Sutter informed him of coach Bryan Murray's decision to sit him against Detroit, Sheppard immediately became nervous about his future with the Panthers.

``Duane Sutter came up to me and told me I wasn't playing,'' Sheppard said. ``The last time I was told that, I was traded the next day. So there are a few things running through my mind right now. I don't know what to think. They've said it could be anybody [who is traded.)''

The last time Sheppard was a healthy scratch was Oct. 23, 1995, the day before the Red Wings traded him to San Jose for Igor Larionov and a draft pick.

Murray has been shopping some of his struggling veterans the past month, but said Sheppard is not one that is in danger of getting traded.

``I think anytime a veteran player is not dressed, there's pressure,'' Murray said. ``But no, nobody has asked about Ray at this moment.''

Murray indicated a trade could be made soon.

Asked if he was going to start rotating forwards in and out of the lineup because of 24 healthy players, Murray said, ``There's no question that I'm certainly looking to do something, so hopefully it won't be a problem much longer.''

Sheppard, who has 12 goals in 53 games, said this has been the most disappointing season of his career, but he is not happy about Murray's decision to sit him.

``It's just a matter of time when you're not scoring that a decision such as today happens,'' Sheppard said. ``But I'm not happy about it, especially against Detroit. I had some pretty good years here and they're obviously a team that you want to come in and play well against. So I don't like the decision.''

Sheppard has scored 316 goals in his 11-year career, including a 52-goal season with the Red Wings in 1992-93. He is a nine-time 20-goal scorer and until last season, he and Jaromir Jagr were the only two players in the NHL to have scored 30 or more goals in five straight seasons. The streak was cut short by one goal last year.

``Look, I'll tell you point-blank that I know I've had a terrible year,'' Sheppard said. ``But not every season is going to go great. Obviously this is a bad year for me personally playing wise, and the team hasn't been great either.''

Murray sat Sheppard because he wanted to get Radek Dvorak, scratched against New Jersey, into the lineup.

``You don't want to sit a guy like Dvorak very long,'' Murray said. ``I felt Jersey was a trap style that doesn't allow speed to be a big factor. Here in Detroit, speed is a big factor against a team that skates. Ray has a chance to watch the team play for a game and get away from the pressure of performing to a high level.''

But Sheppard questions why he was the choice.

``I'm disappointed in myself for this whole year,'' Sheppard said. ``I have high expectations, but I'm not the only one who's not scoring. In that respect, I'm a little disappointed in this decision.''

Laus a dad again

Defenseman Paul Laus flew home Friday morning because his wife, Jeannie, gave birth to their second daughter, Kylie (7 pounds, 5 ounces), at 4 a.m.

In Laus' place, Rhett Warrener was back in the lineup. Chris Wells joined Sheppard and Dallas Eakins as scratches.